The Evolution of LiGHT

1. Since its launch in 2022, LiGHT has established a distinctive identity within London’s lighting and design community. What do you believe has been the driving force behind the event’s rapid growth, and how has the show evolved alongside the industry?

LiGHT has been one of the industry’s great success stories, and that is a credit to the team that created it and the community that has supported it from day one.

I think a large part of its success comes from understanding exactly who the event is for. LiGHT has always had a strong focus on the specification community and has created an environment where people genuinely want to spend time, discover new products, exchange ideas and meet others from across the industry.

At the same time, the industry itself is evolving. Lighting is increasingly connected to much bigger conversations around sustainability, wellbeing, smart buildings, data and building performance. LiGHT has evolved alongside that, becoming a platform for dialogue and knowledge-sharing as much as product discovery.

Our job now is to build on those foundations, retaining the qualities that made LiGHT successful while ensuring the event continues to reflect where the lighting and wider built environment industries are heading.

2. LiGHT has developed a strong reputation for bringing together the specification, architectural and design communities. What makes the LiGHT audience and community different from those attending a more traditional lighting exhibition?

One of LiGHT’s real strengths is the breadth of people it brings together while remaining firmly focused on specification and design.

Lighting does not exist in isolation within a project. Decisions around light intersect with architecture, interiors, engineering, controls, sustainability and increasingly wider building technologies. Bringing those disciplines together creates opportunities for conversations that might not happen within a more traditional exhibition environment.

There is also a very strong sense of community around LiGHT. The event is about discovering products, of course, but equally it is about meeting people, exchanging knowledge and creating connections. That combination of commercial opportunity, education and community is something people seem to genuinely value.

Looking Ahead to LiGHT 26

3. As the industry prepares for LiGHT 26, what can visitors expect to see and experience at this year’s event? Are there particular technologies, product innovations, design concepts or emerging trends that you believe will generate significant interest?

Visitors can expect to see a really broad representation of where lighting is today and where it is heading next, spanning architectural, decorative and technical lighting.

From the conversations I have been having across the industry, there is strong momentum around connected lighting, smarter controls, AI-driven building management, circular product design and embedded sustainability throughout the supply chain.

There is also increasing convergence between lighting, smart building technologies and data-driven building performance. Lighting systems are becoming more intelligent, responsive and integrated into wider building ecosystems, so I expect the relationship between lighting and building technology to generate a lot of interest.

At the same time, good lighting ultimately has to work for people. The innovations gaining the most attention are often those that successfully combine performance, sustainability and user experience, and I think we will see that reflected strongly across LiGHT 26.

4. From the perspective of exhibitors, what opportunities does LiGHT 26 provide to manufacturers and technology companies looking to connect with architects, lighting designers, interior designers, engineers and other specification professionals?

For exhibitors, it is about the quality of the audience and the conversations they can have with them.

Attendance figures are important, but they only tell part of the story. We want exhibitors to leave LiGHT having met the right people, not simply the most people. For manufacturers and technology companies, that means the opportunity to put products and ideas directly in front of the professionals who are influencing specifications and making decisions across live and future projects.

Products also make much more sense when there is an opportunity to discuss the thinking, technology and application behind them. LiGHT gives manufacturers the chance to have those deeper conversations with designers, architects, engineers and specifiers.

Some of the most rewarding feedback is when exhibitors tell us that conversations started at LiGHT have developed into new relationships, collaborations or project opportunities long after the doors have closed.

5. Beyond the exhibition floor itself, what can visitors expect from the LiGHT 26 programme in terms of talks, discussions, demonstrations, networking and opportunities to exchange ideas with leading figures from the industry?

LiGHT has become a platform for dialogue as much as discovery. Our two-day talks programme, expert panels and industry-led discussions are designed to give visitors insight into emerging trends, practical challenges and future opportunities.

The products on display are important, but understanding the thinking behind them is equally valuable. We want to create an environment where meaningful conversations happen between manufacturers, designers, architects, engineers and end users because those discussions can often become the catalyst for innovation.

There are also plenty of opportunities to meet and network throughout the two days. That more informal side of LiGHT is an important part of the event because some of the most useful conversations are not necessarily the ones that happen during a formal presentation or product demonstration.

6. If you were advising a professional who has never attended LiGHT before, what would you say they should make time for during the two days—and what would you not want them to miss?

I would also say don’t approach LiGHT simply as a list of stands to visit. Give yourself time to explore.

There is an enormous amount of knowledge in the room, so look at the products, but also speak to the people behind them. Ask manufacturers about the thinking behind new developments, sit in on some of the talks and use the opportunity to meet people from disciplines outside your immediate area of expertise.

I would particularly encourage someone from the wider construction sector to explore the relationship between the different areas of the show. Architectural and decorative lighting demonstrate the creative possibilities of light, while the Technical Zone opens up conversations around controls, connectivity, data and intelligent buildings.

Make time for the conversations you didn’t plan. Some of the most valuable moments happen between the things you came for – chatting to the person next to you, asking a speaker a question or stopping at a stand that catches your eye. Leave a little room in your day to be curious. You never know who you might meet or what you might take away.

Design, Technology & the Built Environment

7. Lighting is increasingly being considered an essential part of architectural and interior design rather than simply a technical requirement. How is this changing the role of lighting designers and influencing projects from the earliest design stages?

I believe one of the biggest misconceptions about lighting is that it is primarily about illumination. Modern lighting influences energy performance, wellbeing, productivity, sustainability, aesthetics and the overall experience of a space. It has become a strategic design discipline that contributes to wider project objectives.

That makes early collaboration increasingly important. Bringing lighting into the design conversation from the outset gives architects, designers and manufacturers more opportunity to explore the right solutions rather than limiting those choices later in the project.

It also allows lighting to be considered alongside daylight, materials, architecture, controls and building performance rather than as a separate element that is addressed towards the end of the process.

8. Sustainability has moved well beyond energy efficiency. How do you see the lighting industry addressing issues such as material selection, product longevity, repairability, circularity and responsible manufacturing?

I think the conversation needs to shift from upfront cost to long-term value.

Sustainability and commercial viability should not be viewed as competing priorities. High-quality, energy-efficient products can deliver significant operational savings, lower maintenance requirements and improved lifecycle performance.

Manufacturers also have an important role to play in designing products that support circularity, repairability and transparency without creating unnecessary complexity.

Increasingly, the conversation is not simply about how much energy a product consumes in use, but how it is made, how long it will last, whether components can be maintained or replaced and what happens at the end of its useful life.

Innovation is most successful when it delivers environmental benefits while also providing clear commercial advantages for clients and end users.

9. Human-centric lighting is becoming increasingly important across workplaces, hospitality, healthcare, residential and public environments. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for lighting to positively influence wellbeing and the human experience of buildings?

As research continues to demonstrate the impact of light on health, mood, productivity and circadian rhythms, expectations are changing. Occupants, employers, educators and healthcare providers increasingly understand that lighting can directly influence wellbeing and performance.

From the conversations I’ve been having across the industry, there is a growing sense that human-centric principles are moving from being viewed as a specialist consideration to something that is becoming part of mainstream lighting design.

The opportunity extends across almost every environment because ultimately buildings are designed for people. Whether it is helping someone feel comfortable in a workplace, creating a calmer healthcare environment, shaping atmosphere in hospitality or making a public space feel welcoming and easy to navigate, lighting has a significant influence on how we experience a space.

As the evidence base grows and technology becomes more accessible, I think these considerations will become an increasingly standard part of good design.

10. AI and digital technologies are beginning to reshape the wider construction and design process. How do you see AI influencing lighting design, specification and visualisation—and where do you believe human creativity will remain irreplaceable?

AI has the potential to become a powerful tool throughout the design and specification process. We are already seeing technologies that can analyse building performance, optimise energy use, support lighting calculations and streamline project workflows.

Over the next five years, I believe AI will help professionals make faster, more informed decisions, while giving designers more time to focus on creativity and the human experience.

However, technology should enhance expertise, not replace it. Lighting design remains deeply connected to human perception, emotion and wellbeing. Data can inform a decision and technology can make processes more efficient but understanding how a space should feel and how people will experience it still requires human judgement, creativity and empathy.

At LiGHT, we are keen to facilitate discussions that explore both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with AI so the industry can adopt these technologies thoughtfully and effectively.

11. Smart controls, connected lighting and building automation are becoming increasingly sophisticated. What needs to happen to make these technologies more intuitive and accessible to designers, installers, building owners and ultimately the people using these spaces?

Lighting is becoming one of the most valuable sources of data and connectivity within modern buildings. Intelligent lighting systems can support occupancy monitoring, energy management, environmental controls and user experience simultaneously.

As digital twins and integrated building management systems continue to develop, lighting will play an increasingly central role in providing information and enabling responsive environments.

The challenge is ensuring that increasing technological capability does not translate into unnecessary complexity. For connected buildings to deliver their full potential, systems need to be understandable and practical for the people specifying, installing, commissioning, managing and ultimately using them.

That makes collaboration and interoperability increasingly important. The technology has to serve the building and its occupants, rather than technology becoming the objective in itself.

If the industry can combine sophisticated capability with greater simplicity and accessibility, connected lighting has an enormous role to play in the future of building performance.

Connecting the Industry

12. One of the challenges across construction is ensuring that the original design intent survives the journey from concept to specification, procurement and installation. What can the lighting industry do to strengthen collaboration between designers, manufacturers, contractors and other project stakeholders?

This is where bringing people into the conversation earlier can make a real difference.

A project passes through many hands between the original concept and the finished building, and each stage brings different priorities and pressures. If designers, manufacturers, engineers, contractors and other stakeholders understand not just what has been specified but why, there is a much stronger foundation for making informed decisions throughout that process.

Good communication is therefore essential. Manufacturers can support that through technical knowledge and clear product information, while designers need opportunities to communicate the intent behind a scheme and contractors bring invaluable practical understanding of delivery and installation.

That is also why platforms that bring different disciplines together are so important. Our role at LiGHT is to create an environment where meaningful conversations can happen between manufacturers, designers, architects, engineers and end users. The more the industry understands each other’s challenges, the better equipped it is to protect quality and design intent throughout a project.

13. What emerging lighting technology, application or design philosophy do you believe is currently underappreciated but could have a transformative impact on the built environment over the next five years?

For me, one of the most interesting developments is not necessarily a single technology, but the increasing convergence between lighting and wider building systems.

Lighting is already distributed throughout almost every occupied building, which creates significant opportunities as systems become more connected and intelligent. We are seeing lighting interact with occupancy data, environmental controls, energy management and wider building automation in ways that move it far beyond its traditional role.

That could fundamentally change how the wider construction industry thinks about lighting. Rather than being viewed primarily as a utility, it becomes part of the infrastructure that helps a building understand how it is being used and respond accordingly.

There is still a great deal for the industry to explore around integration, interoperability and how that data is used effectively, but the potential contribution to more responsive, efficient and user-focused buildings is significant.

A New Chapter for LiGHT

14. LiGHT has now entered a new chapter following Messe Frankfurt’s acquisition of the event and its integration into the wider Light + Building family. Do you see this as simply a change in ownership, or as an opportunity to take LiGHT into a much larger international story? And how will you preserve the distinctive character and close-knit community that have been central to its success?

It is absolutely an opportunity to become part of a much larger international story, but without losing what has made LiGHT successful in the first place.

Much of LiGHT’s success has been built on its distinctive identity and the strong relationships it has established across the lighting and design community. One of our priorities at Messe Frankfurt UK is to protect and nurture those qualities, particularly the event’s focus on specification, its high-quality content programme and the welcoming atmosphere that people genuinely value.

At the same time, becoming part of the Messe Frankfurt family opens up significant opportunities. We now have access to a global network of industry contacts, market expertise and world-leading trade fair brands, including the wider Light + Building community. That gives us the opportunity to bring new perspectives, international connections and long-term investment to LiGHT.

Rather than changing what LiGHT is, our ambition is to build on a strong foundation. There is a real opportunity to connect the UK lighting and specification community more closely with developments taking place internationally while retaining the personality and sense of community that make LiGHT distinctive.

The Future

15. Finally, looking beyond LiGHT 26, what is your vision for the event over the next five years? What would you like LiGHT to become for the global lighting community—not just as an annual exhibition, but as a platform for innovation, knowledge-sharing, collaboration and the future of lighting design?

Our ambition is for LiGHT to strengthen its position as the UK’s leading specification lighting event while expanding its influence internationally.

Over the next five years, I see LiGHT becoming an even more important platform for knowledge-sharing, innovation and collaboration across the built environment. We want to continue attracting the industry’s leading brands and designers while creating opportunities for new voices and emerging talent to contribute to the conversation.

Ultimately, our goal is for LiGHT not simply to reflect the future of lighting, but to help shape it by bringing together the people and ideas that will define the next generation of the industry.